RU2821392C1 - System for remotely configuring functioning of physical computer devices on remote server - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: computer technology.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of computer technology. The technical result is achieved through a system for remotely configuring the functioning of physical computer devices on a remote server, which contains a remote server, interface, control, data processing and transmission units, information input and output, computer, monitor, peripheral equipment, and these devices are configured to receive a request for data processing and corresponding data from corresponding devices with the possibility of subsequent transmission of commands to peripheral devices.

EFFECT: technical result is to provide the possibility of remote configuration and organization of the operation of computers with connected peripheral devices.

33 cl, 5 dwg

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to computer technology with a large number of connected external equipment, in particular, to computers with software for a cash register in a sales area (hereinafter referred to as the Cash Desk), to which external peripheral input/output devices are connected, for example, a monitor, keyboard, trading peripheral equipment, scale, pin pad, cash drawer, scanner, customer display and so on. Cash registers can include both the participation of a cashier and his absence - self-service cash registers.

State of the art

Currently, there are ways to run highly loaded software on a remote server, send keyboard and mouse control signals from the computer to the remote server, receive an image from the server to broadcast to the screen and send the image to the computer. Thus, the computer user, while working on the computer, is actually working with software running on a remote server (see Fig. 2). Remote access technologies work in a similar way - rdesktop, VNC, Radmin.

However, this mechanism for remote software execution has a significant limitation: specific devices on USB, COM and other ports require complex device software and drivers pre-installed on the computer for their operation. The usual way for physical peripheral devices and software to interact on a remote server is to receive driver data streams on the computer, and forward information streams between the driver and software to the remote server (see Fig. 3).

The problem with this method lies precisely in the driver on the computer and the method of transmitting information flows - the driver requires installation, and a specific installation for the current model and manufacturer of the physical peripheral device and for the computer’s hardware platform x86, x86_64, arm, etc. and requires an operating system on the computer, for example:
MS Windows, Linux or other, as well as maintenance and updating of the driver on the computer, as well as possible reinstallation of the driver in case of failure on the operating system.

If you connect several devices on different ports on the computer, you will need to install a whole lot of specific device drivers, and for each device driver you need to install separate specific software that can redirect information flows from the computer to a remote server. All the many specific software and device drivers are installed on the computer, and therefore they place serious demands on the computer’s performance and on the computer’s operating system. A large amount of specific software on a computer makes the process of setting up, connecting and servicing equipment labor-intensive and resource-intensive for each cash register computer and often requires manual configuration by an engineer. As a result, existing methods for transferring highly loaded software to a remote server are not able to solve the problem of connecting heterogeneous physical peripheral devices to a computer without adding highly loaded software to the computer (see Fig. 4).

An interactive self-service checkout is known (utility model patent RU113391, G07F 19/00, published 02/10/2012), which relates to the technology of interactive customer service by placing electronic touch-sensitive retail equipment in the store space to help the buyer pay for purchases. The disadvantages of this well-known technical solution are: the long process of the buyer working with a self-service checkout when purchasing goods and the insufficient accuracy of identifying goods when scanning, as well as the lack of means for effective automated configuration of system parameters.

There is a well-known solution disclosed in the PRC patent CN106056822 (published on October 26, 2016) “System and method for protecting against theft in a self-service store,” which describes a system for blocking an exit if the buyer has an unpaid item. The disadvantage of the known solution is the possibility of mistakenly blocking a customer, attracting the attention of store staff and other customers to him, which creates significant psychological discomfort and the lack of means for effective automated configuration of system parameters.

Disclosure of the invention

The purpose of this invention is to minimize capital investments of organizations that use a large number of computers with various connected physical devices, and to minimize the operating costs of organizations to maintain a fleet of computers and peripheral devices in working condition, by solving the problem of the large number and specificity of software of computer peripheral devices.

The technical result is the ability to remotely configure and organize the functioning of computers with connected peripheral devices through the use of a system for transmitting signals from peripheral input-output ports of the computer to a remote server and installing high-load software for working with peripheral equipment, hardware drivers on a remote server, excluding the traditional installation of the said software on computer.

The claimed technical result is achieved in that the system for remotely configuring the functioning of physical computer devices on a remote server contains a remote server containing at least one data processing unit, a remote server peripheral device control unit, at least one data transmission unit, at least one interface block for working with I/O ports; at least one computer containing at least one data transmission unit, at least one interface unit for working with input/output ports, at least one information input/output unit, a monitor and at least one peripheral equipment, wherein the unit computer information input-output unit is configured to receive a request for data processing and corresponding data, the computer data transmission unit is configured to receive a request for data processing and corresponding data from the computer information input-output unit, the remote server data transmission unit is configured to receive the request for processing data and corresponding data from the computer, the data processing unit of the remote server carries out a request to process data received from the computer and generates data that is the result of the request for data processing, the data transfer unit of the remote server is configured to transmit data that is the result of the execution request for data processing to the computer, the computer, through the input/output block, transmits the result of the request for data processing to the computer monitor, the interface block for working with the input/output ports of computer information is configured to receive a signal from a peripheral device through the input/output ports of the computer , and transmitting a signal to the computer data transmission block, the computer data transmission block is configured to transmit data to the remote server data transmission block, the remote server data transmission block is configured to transmit a signal to the interface block for working with the input-output ports of the remote server, interface the block for working with the input/output ports of a remote server is designed to transmit a signal to the input/output ports of a remote server,

the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to process a signal received at the input/output ports of the remote server, the remote computer data processing unit is configured to process data from the remote server peripheral device control unit and generate a command for execution by the peripheral device, the peripheral device control unit the remote server is configured to receive a command for execution by a peripheral device from the data processing unit of the remote computer, the control unit of the remote server peripheral device is configured to transmit the command to the input-output ports of the remote server, the interface block for working with the input-output ports of the remote server is configured with the ability to receive commands for execution by a peripheral device from the I/O ports of the remote server and transmit commands to the data transmission unit of the remote server, the data transmission unit of the remote server is configured to transmit commands to the computer data transmission unit, the computer data transmission unit is configured to transmit commands to interface block for working with computer input/output ports, the interface block for working with computer input/output ports is configured to transmit the received command to the corresponding peripheral device by sending a signal to the corresponding input/output ports of the computer.

In one embodiment, the computer is a mobile device.

In one embodiment, the computer has built-in peripheral equipment.

In one embodiment, the computer interface unit is configured to automatically connect a peripheral device by polling the computer's local I/O ports.

In one embodiment, the computer interface unit is configured to automatically turn off a peripheral device by polling the local I/O ports of the computer.

In one embodiment, the remote server data transmission unit is configured to automatically detect the loss of communication with the computer and automatically restore communication with the computer.

In one embodiment, the interface unit for working with the I/O ports of a remote server is configured to automatically detect a peripheral device, and add the peripheral device to the list of connected devices of the remote server, by receiving a signal from the corresponding device from the data transmission unit of the remote server.

In one embodiment, the interface unit for working with the input/output ports of a remote server is configured to automatically turn off a peripheral device and remove a peripheral device from the list of connected devices of the remote server by analyzing signals from the data transmission unit of the remote server.

In one embodiment, the I/O port is a USB port.

In one embodiment, the I/O port is a COM port.

In one embodiment, the I/O port is an LPT port.

In one embodiment, the I/O port is a PS/2 port.

In one embodiment, the I/O port is a monitor connector, one or more of the following: VGA, DVI, HDMI, Display Port, USB Type-C.

In one embodiment, the I/O port is an Ethernet port.

In one embodiment, the remote server data transmission unit is configured to transmit information over the network via a secure ssh channel.

In one embodiment, the computer data transmission unit is configured to transmit information over the network via a secure ssh channel.

In one embodiment, the computer interface unit is configured to control software of the peripheral device.

In one embodiment, the remote server interface unit is configured to control the software of the peripheral device.

In one embodiment, the computer interface unit is configured to use the launch of binary files on the computer, which in turn are capable of generating and sending commands to the device through the computer's I/O port, or reading signals from the device through the computer's I/O port, and returning the result of working with the device to the interface block.

In one embodiment, the computer interface unit is configured to automatically restart the process of working with a peripheral device in the event of errors.

In one of the implementation options, the interface block of the remote server is designed with the ability to automatically restart the process of working with a peripheral device in the event of errors.

In one embodiment, the peripheral input/output device is configured to determine the weight of an object and transmit the weight value as a signal to the input/output port of the computer.

In one embodiment, the peripheral input/output device is configured to enter a PIN code when paying by card or phone and transfer the entered value to the input/output port of the computer.

In one embodiment, the peripheral input/output device is made in the form of a closable container designed for collecting and storing cash, as well as any other “securities”, and the signal to open the container can come from the input/output port of the computer and the container is made with the ability to transmit a signal about its open/closed status to the computer input/output port.

In one embodiment, the peripheral input/output device is configured to scan a product barcode to transfer information to a computer via the computer's input/output port.

In one embodiment, the peripheral input/output device is made in the form of an electronic display that can display information about the name and cost of the product purchased by the buyer, the amount of the check, change and discount amount, advertising information and information messages. In one embodiment, the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to operate with the peripheral device so that the peripheral device can perform its functional purpose.

In one embodiment, the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to automatically detect the peripheral device by analyzing signals from the interface unit for working with the remote server's I/O ports.

In one embodiment, the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to automatically remove from the list of detected peripheral devices by analyzing signals from the interface unit for working with the remote server I/O ports.

In one embodiment, the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured so that other operating system software can use it to gain access to the peripheral device hardware.

In one embodiment, the remote server data processing unit interacts with the remote server peripheral device control unit via the remote server operating system. The operating system allows the processing unit to detect the control unit of the peripheral device, and send commands, receive data and signals.

In one embodiment, the computer may not have a hard drive, and the OS image with additional software is loaded over the network when the computer starts.

In one embodiment, the computer data transfer unit contains configuration settings for connecting to a remote server.

Brief description of drawings

Fig. 1. Block diagram of the system

Fig. 2. Prototype operation

Fig.3. The usual way of connecting, for example, a “printer” device

Fig. 4. Prototype operation with simultaneous connection of several peripheral devices

Fig. 5. Operation of the system with the achieved technical result of the invention

The system contains a remote server 1, a data processing unit 2, a peripheral device control unit 3, an input/output port 4, an interface unit 5 for working with input/output ports, a data transfer unit 6, a computer 7, a data transfer unit 8, an interface unit 9 for working with I/O ports, 10 I/O port, 11 peripheral device.

Carrying out the invention

The technical result reduces the load on enterprise computers 7, reduces hardware requirements for enterprise computers 7, ensures a uniform unified process for maintaining operating computers 1 of different configurations and platforms, and minimizes situations requiring manual intervention by engineers

To obtain a technical result on computer 7, we launch, in addition to the operating system, additional software: only low-level utilities that receive signals through the interfaces of connected peripheral devices 11 and utilities for transmitting the specified signals through the data transfer unit 8 to the remote server 1. These utilities depend on the hardware There are 7 computer platforms, but the number of variations is not so great: x86, x86_64, arm, etc., which makes it possible to implement a unified approach - to have several versions of utilities to provide the entire fleet of computers in the enterprise.

Providing a technical result is achieved through the use of additional software integrated into the operating system on nodes, such as a computer or other equipment with a physical connection of peripheral devices.

Additional software means a set of low-level utilities that ensure the transmission of specified signals to input-output ports 4 of server 1. As a result, the specified set of low-level utilities 5,6,8,9 will provide the ability for application software 2 to work with peripheral devices not on a node with a physical connection 7, and on remote node 1 it is as if the devices are physically connected to remote node 1.

Transmission of signals for working with a peripheral device, work with input/output operations and transmission/reception of control commands when interacting with a remote node acting as a receiver is carried out over a local area network (LAN). To ensure the continuity and integrity of the data flow transmission, the connection between nodes is constantly monitored through additional software installed in the OS of remote server 1 and computer 7.

The invention provides control of peripheral devices 11 not on a computer 7 with a physical connection of the devices, but on a more productive remote server 1.

Device drivers also run on performance server 1.

Since the installation and use of device drivers is moved from the nodes with the physical connection of server 1 devices, therefore, the technological risks associated with the need to manage and keep drivers for peripheral devices 11 up to date are reduced. As a result, configurations and connection parameters of peripheral devices 11 are managed centrally - at remote server 1, which significantly simplifies management and increases the speed of making changes for new and existing equipment 11. Equipment configuration management on nodes with a physical connection is minimal, which affects the quality and speed of incident processing by technical support engineers.

This solution is in great demand in software and hardware systems (SHC) supporting various areas of activity, where there are a large number of peripheral devices 11 connected locally and there is a shortage of computing resources. The shortage of computing resources is due to the ever-increasing complexity of application software and hardware drivers that must be installed on computing resources.

For example, this problem is acute in retail trade, due to the large number of cash registers on the sales floor, the large number of connected equipment, and the increasing complexity of cash register software, and the increasing requirements for cash register software.

As a result, application software and hardware drivers are moved to high-performance remote servers 1. In this case, a node with a physical connection may have minimal technical characteristics, sufficient only to physically connect the required number of peripheral devices 11 and to run the OS and access via LAN to a high-performance remote server 1 with application software for receiving/transmitting I/O control commands.

Note that computer 7 may not have a hard drive. In this case, the operating system image with additional software is loaded over the network when computer 7 starts.

You can consider how the invention will work in the case of using the invention in a retail hardware complex, in retail cash registers 7. In this example, the main work is carried out in application cash register software located on a remote high-performance server 1, and peripheral equipment drivers are also installed on the same server 1. In turn, computer 7 with physical connections to peripheral devices acts as an access terminal.

In this case, the physical cash register connects to a remote server 1, which ensures the interaction of the cash register application software with the physically connected peripheral equipment 11 (scanner, customer display, scales, etc.).

An example of the operation of the system with the achieved technical result of the invention is shown in Fig. 5.

Access to application software 2 located on remote server 1 can be achieved through technologies such as: SSH, VNC, RDP and others based on need.

Below is a description of the principle of operation of the application software with the hardware of the device 11, through a hardware driver accessible through the computer operating system. Application software has the need to send application commands to connected devices 11, and read application messages from devices. For example, for all printers there may be an application command “send a document image for Printing”, “Interrupt printing”, “get printer status” and so on. For a device of the “scales” type, there may be a set of application commands such as “count weight”, “get device status”. For “cash drawer” devices, the application command will be “open the drawer”, “get device status”.

The operating system controls some “generalized generic device” that understands a standard set of commands. The peripheral device control unit translates these commands into commands that the device itself understands. This ideology is called “hardware abstraction.” For the first time in domestic computing technology, a similar approach appeared in the ES series of computers, and this kind of control software was called channel software.

Hardware drivers operate on 11 peripheral hardware through 4 I/O ports available in the operating system. The process is to send signals to the 4 I/O ports and read the response signals from the 4 I/O ports.

In the classic situation, before using the invention, the hardware of the peripheral devices 11 was connected to the same input/output ports 4 as the device drivers 3. When the technical result of the invention is achieved, the architecture will be different. The hardware of peripheral devices 11 is connected to the I/O ports of computer 7, and device drivers 3 are connected to the I/O ports of server 1. In order for signals from the I/O ports of server 1 to be delivered to the I/O ports of computer 7, additional software is required, low-level utilities. The utility is installed on a remote node, and reads or, conversely, writes signals from I/O ports 4 of the remote node. Next, the utility, through the operating system, communicates with the data transfer utility, which ensures the sending and receiving of the specified signals from the I/O ports over the LAN to computer 7 with physical connection of devices 11. On computer 7 with physical connection processor of devices 11, signals will be received or sent using data reception and transmission utility, which is installed on computer 7. Next, the data reception and transmission utility, through the operating system of computer 7, interacts with the utility for working with input-output ports 10, and transmits signals to it or receives response signals. The utility for working with I/O ports, in turn, transmits or reads signals from I/O port 10, to which the hardware of peripheral devices 11 is already connected.

In the foregoing description, embodiments of the present invention have been set forth for clarity with reference to specific functional circuits and blocks.
However, it is clear that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional circuits or blocks can be used without prejudice to the present invention. For example, functionality shown to be implemented by separate servers, computers, or units may be implemented by the same server, computer, or unit. Therefore, references to specific functional blocks or diagrams should be considered only as references to suitable means to provide the functionality described, and not as an indication of the strict logical or physical structure of the system. The present invention may be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, or any combination thereof. Although the present invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments, this should not be construed as limiting it to the particular form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims. Further, although individual features may be included in different claims, they may be effectively combined, and inclusion in different claims does not mean that the combination of features is infeasible and/or disadvantageous. Moreover, the order of features in the claims does not indicate the specific order in which those features should be applied.

Taking into account the above, we can conclude that the essential features of the claimed invention are not known from the prior art and ensure full compliance of the claimed invention with the conditions of patentability “novelty” and “inventive step”.

The claimed invention can be used in industry to effectively remotely configure the functioning of physical computer devices on a remote server. Thus, the claimed invention satisfies the patentability condition of “industrial applicability”.

It follows that, in the opinion of the applicant, the claimed invention fully complies with the conditions of patentability according to Art. 1350 Civil Code of the Russian Federation.

Claims (36)

1. A system for remote configuration of the functioning of physical computer devices on a remote server, comprising a remote server containing at least one data processing unit, a remote server peripheral device control unit, at least one data transmission unit, at least one interface unit for working with input/output ports; at least one computer containing at least one data transmission unit, at least one interface unit for working with input/output ports, at least one information input/output unit, a monitor and at least one peripheral equipment, wherein the computer information input-output block is configured to receive a request for data processing and corresponding data, the computer data transmission block is configured to receive a data processing request and corresponding data from the computer information input-output block, the remote server data transmission block is configured to receive request for data processing and corresponding data from the computer, the data processing unit of the remote server fulfills the request for processing data received from the computer and generates data representing the result of the request for data processing, the data transmission unit of the remote server is configured to transmit data representing is the result of executing a request for data processing to a computer; the computer, through an input-output block, transmits the result of executing a request for data processing to the computer monitor, the interface unit for working with the input/output ports of computer information is configured to receive a signal from a peripheral device through the input/output ports of the computer and transmit the signal to the computer data transmission unit, the computer data transmission unit is configured to transmit data to the data transmission unit of the remote server, the remote server data transmission unit is configured to transmit a signal to the interface block for working with the input-output ports of the remote server, the interface block for working with the input-output ports of the remote server is configured to transmit the signal to the input-output ports of the remote server, the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to process a signal received at the input/output ports of the remote server, the remote computer data processing unit is configured to process data from the remote server peripheral device control unit and generate a command for execution by the peripheral device, the peripheral device control unit the remote server is configured to receive a command for execution by a peripheral device from the data processing unit of the remote computer, the control unit of the remote server peripheral device is configured to transmit the command to the input-output ports of the remote server, the interface block for working with the input-output ports of the remote server is configured with the ability to receive commands for execution by a peripheral device from the I/O ports of the remote server and transmit commands to the data transmission unit of the remote server, the data transmission unit of the remote server is configured to transmit commands to the computer data transmission unit, the computer data transmission unit is configured to transmit commands to interface block for working with computer input/output ports, the interface block for working with computer input/output ports is configured to transmit the received command to the corresponding peripheral device by sending a signal to the corresponding input/output ports of the computer. 2. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer is a mobile device. 3. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer has built-in peripheral equipment. 4. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer interface unit is configured to automatically connect a peripheral device by polling the computer’s I/O ports. 5. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer interface unit is configured to automatically turn off a peripheral device by polling the computer’s I/O ports. 6. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmission unit of the remote server is configured to automatically detect the loss of communication with the computer and automatically restore communication with the computer. 7. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface unit for working with the input/output ports of the remote server is configured to automatically detect a peripheral device and add the peripheral device to the list of connected devices of the remote server by receiving a signal from the corresponding device from the remote data transmission unit server. 8. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface unit for working with the I/O ports of the remote server is configured to automatically turn off the peripheral device and remove the peripheral device from the list of connected devices of the remote server by analyzing signals from the data transmission unit of the remote server. 9. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the I/O port is a USB port. 10. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the I/O port is a COM port. 11. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the input/output port is an LPT port. 12. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the I/O port is a PS/2 port. 13. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the I/O port is a monitor connector, one or more of the following: VGA, DVI, HDMI, Display Port, USB Type-C. 14. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the I/O port is an Ethernet port. 15. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data transmission unit of the remote server is configured to transmit information over the network via a secure ssh channel. 16. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer data transmission unit is configured to transmit information over the network via a secure ssh channel. 17. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer interface unit is configured to control the software of the peripheral device. 18. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface unit of the remote server is configured to control the software of the peripheral device. 19. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer interface unit is configured to use the launch of binary files on the computer, which in turn are capable of generating and sending commands to the device through the input/output port of the computer or reading signals from the device through the input port - computer output and return the result of working with the device to the interface block. 20. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer interface unit is configured to automatically restart the process of working with a peripheral device in the event of errors. 21. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the interface block of the remote server is designed with the ability to automatically restart the process of working with a peripheral device in the event of errors. 22. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral input/output device is configured to determine the weight of an object and transmit the weight value in the form of a signal to the input/output port of the computer. 23. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral input/output device is configured to enter a PIN code when paying by card or phone and transfer the entered value to the input/output port of the computer. 24. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral input/output device is made in the form of a closing container designed for collecting and storing cash, as well as any other “securities”, and the signal to open the container can come from the port input/output port of the computer and the container is configured to transmit a signal about its open/closed status to the input/output port of the computer. 25. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral input/output device is configured to scan a product barcode to transfer information to a computer via the computer’s input/output port. 26. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral input/output device is made in the form of an electronic display that can display information about the name and cost of the product purchased by the buyer, the amount of the check, change and discount amount, advertising information and information messages. 27. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to work with the peripheral device so that the peripheral device can perform its functional purpose. 28. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the remote server peripheral device control unit is configured to automatically detect a peripheral device by analyzing signals from the interface unit for working with the input/output ports of the remote server. 29. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit of the peripheral device of the remote server is configured to automatically remove from the list of detected peripheral devices by analyzing signals from the interface unit for working with the I/O ports of the remote server. 30. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit of the peripheral device of the remote server is designed so that with its help the operating system gains access to the hardware of the peripheral device. 31. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data processing unit of the remote server interacts with the control unit of the peripheral device of the remote server through the operating system of the remote server; The operating system allows the data processing unit to detect the peripheral device control unit and send commands, receive data and signals. 32. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer may not have a hard drive, and the OS image with additional software is loaded over the network when the computer starts. 33. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that the computer data transmission unit contains configuration settings for connecting to a remote server.